The Event Grapevine: Dec. 19-21

Most wineries have wrapped up their events for the year, concentrating on retail sales as the holidays approach. One exception is

Woodhall Wine Cellars in Parkton, Md. For those who missed the event last weekend or liked it so much they want to return, the winery will hold a More Cookies and Wine Sale this weekend. It wil run Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Bring the kids to frost sugar cookies. Enjoy a cup of hot mulled wine (the kids get hot chocolate) and pick out your case of holiday wine at the “first 100 days” discount price of $100. We’ll be featuring gift items from Moose Ridge Alpacas, The Pampered Chef, and jewelry by Silpada and crafts by Victor DiPace.

Oh, and tell Debbie and Al that I said hello.

Also, you can leave the winery and step next store to Patricia Della for a gourmet wine dinner. The five courses are fixed at $50, plus tax and gratuity. Here’s the menu.

MENU
- Scallops with a key lime gastrique

- Butternut squash bisque
- Mixed greens with candied pecans, dried apricots, and apple slices with maple vinaigrette

- Macadamia nut encrusted lamb chops with pineapple BBQ sauce
or
- Fillet mignon filled with herb goat cheese and served with balsamic reduction
- Bailey’s ice cream with Kahlúa whipped cream

The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m., by reservation. For reservations, call 410.357.5078.

Otherwise, here’s what’s happening this weekend and beyond.


PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Open noon to 6 p.m. throughout the holidays, except for Christmas and New Year’s, http://www.chaddsford.com

Clover Hill Winery, Breinigsville: Sparkling wine tasting, Dec. 27-31, all locations, http://www.cloverhillwinery.com

Clover Mill Farm Vineyards & Winery, Chester Springs: Open again, Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., through December, http://www.clovermillfarm.com/

Country Creek Winery, Telford: Local string trio, Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m., 133 Cressman Road, http://www.countrycreekwinery.com/

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Riedel Crystal Wine-Tasting workshop ($$), Sunday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m., http://www.crossingvineyards.com

Hauser Estate Winery, Biglerville: New winery open, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Candle Light Friday/Happy Hour, the last Friday of every month, 5 to 8 p.m.; satellite shop opened at 17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, http://www.hauserestate.com/

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Music at West Chester tasting room, 44 E. Gay St., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m., http://www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com/

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music every Friday (6 to 9 p.m.), Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (2 to 5 p.m.); holiday brunch ($$), Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., http://www.moondancerwinery.com

Naylor Winery, Stewartstown: December Weekends, Fridays and Saturdays (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Sundays (noon to 5 p.m.); cookies, cheeses, fruits and hot spiced wine, www.naylorwine.com

North Wales Winery and Tasting Room, Montgomeryville: Open noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20-24, 26-28, 30-31; Bonnie Hauck’s artwork show, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., http://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com/

Penns Woods Winery, Chadds Ford: Tasting room hours, Wednesdays-Fridays, noon until dark, Saturdays, 11 a.m. until dark, Sundays, noon until dark, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com/

Va La Vineyards, Avondale: New holiday hours starting Dec. 1, weekdays, 12:01 to 5:27 p.m., Saturday and Sundays, 12:02 to 5:48 p.m., http://www.valavineyards.com/

VyneCrest Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Christmas open house, Friday til 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Christkindlmarkt in historic Bethlehem, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., www.vynecrest.com

Wycombe Vineyards, Furlong: Tasting and sales rooms will be open Friday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., http://www.wycombevineyards.com

MARYLAND WINERIES

Black Ankle Winery, Mt. Airy: Open for business, winner of Maryland Governor’s Cup in 2008; winter hours start Dec. 1, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., other times by appointment; festive afternoon in the vineyard, Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 to 5 p.m., information on winery at this link

Boordy Vineyards, Hydes: Celtic Christmas Weekends ($$), every weekend in December, winery link

Frederick Cellars, Frederick: Holiday Shopping for Guys, tonight until 9 p.m., Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m.; Holiday Troubadour Music by John Durant, Sunday, 4 to 6 p.m.; plus in-store free wine tasting, Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., at Trout Liquors in Braddock Heights, and get a special 10 percent discount on the wines being poured that day. Call the winery at 301.668.0311 or Trout Liquors at 301.371.4400 for details, winery link

Linganore Winecellars/Berrywine Plantation, Mt. Airy: Simmering Holiday Wines / Food Pairing, daily through December ($$), sample simmering, spiced grape and apple wines, along with inspired holiday food pairings, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., winery link

Woodhall Wine Cellars, Parkton: More Cookies and Wine Sale, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., winery link

Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link

$$ – Admission charge

NY wine foundation cutback threatened

My "partner" from www.drinklocalwine.com sent an e-mail out after reading in yesterday's Rochester, N.Y, paper that the state's governor is thinking of significantly cutting back its support to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. For an Eastern wine industry that's still comparatively young, at least when held up to California, this is bad news indeed. I'm going to post McIntyre's note with the link to his blog, then will post any reaction from winery association officials as I get them.
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Dear fellow Regional Wine Writers

In case you didn't see it, Thursday's Rochester Democrat & Chronicle carried a report on NY Gov. Patterson's proposal to slash state support for the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

While understandable in the current economic climate, such a move would have important implications - not only for the NY wine industry, but for wineries across the country. I've posted an item on my blog about it, with links to the story itself as well as to the Governor's Web site.My concern - shared by Jeff Siegel, my co-conspirator on DrinkLocalWine.com - is that other states may follow suit and cut their support for local wine industries.

Here's how you can help:

Post about this on your blogs, too, so your readers will know how the NY cuts might affect wineries in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan or elsewhere.

Post a comment on my blog (and on any other blogs where you see this issue raised - let's cross pollinate!) with TrackBacks or whatever blog-toy you can think of.

E-mail Jim Tresize of the NYW&GF to voice your support (I've cc'd him on this e-mail, so you'll have his address).

Send your blog posts to Governor Patterson - show him that the Foundation's work resonates outside the state.

Encourage your readers to do likewise.Given the economic situation, we probably won't have much effect. But I'm certain we'll have no effect whatsoever if we don't speak up.I'll be opening a New York wine this weekend, and raising a glass in support of the NY Wine & Grape Foundation.

Dave McIntyre

Sand Castle kiosk among '08 highlights

These 2008 highlights come off the e-letter from Sand Castle Winery in Erwinna, Pa.

• Great Dry Weather Aug & Sept.
helped to create a Great Harvest

• Repairs of River Road finished and
after 4 years the road is open from
Easton to Bristol both directions!

• 20th Anniversary of the first bottle of
wine sold at Sand Castle

• Partnership with Open Aire Affairs
for catered events and weddings

• Kiosk in Montgomery Mall

• Distribution of the wines to Montana,
Michigan and West Virginia in
addition to New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.

And I'll mention this January party:

Hit the New Year in Style
Everyone is invited to our Holiday Party in January
Sunday January 11, 2009 2-4 pm
Please RSVP by Jan. 7th (name and number of attending)
Phone: 610. 294.9181; Fax: 610. 294.9174; E-mail: winesand@epix.net